First of all, let me say that knowing myself I am very impressed that I wrote a total of six blog posts around a single topic. That's just not the way I work. :)

Did I accomplish and finish my goal? Technically no, BUT I'm am thissssssssssss close! The documents I've accumulated in researching Mary this year have the elements I need. I am now at the point of needing to formally construct a research plan (yes Kathleen I WILL do that) in order to prove the relationship. I am doing that a little backwards and after-the-fact, and we all know the "genealogy police" would scold me severely for doing so but c'est la vie it is what it is.

In thinking about my 2012 genealogy research goals, I obviously had to include the completion of my search for Mary/Martha. I did however decide to include two more goals related to genealogy. I think lists of three look developed without being overwhelming.

Create a research plan and prove my relationship to Mary Smith Evingham

Attend one local genealogy society or event each quarter in 2012

Post more comments to other bloggers on their blog itself not on Twitter, Facebook or Google+

I feel comfortable with these goals as well as excited. Being able to complete the story of Mary and move onto another family line will be welcome. As for item number two, my county does not have a genealogy society, they do have a historical society and while I'm a member I don't attend their meetings (it would take another series of 6 blog posts to cover the reasons). Also, two neighboring counties have very active societies and I am looking forward to attending their events.

Finally, I plan to make a concerted effort (I actually started this yesterday) to post my comments on the blog comment section of the post. I have been terribly lazy in only making a short comment here and there when I see the blog post on Twitter, Facebook or Google+. Somewhat in my defense I'm usually reading the blog posts on my phone and it is easier to forward, like and plus something with a quick note. I find it difficult to comment from my phone on many blogs that have word verification requirements. Still, those are excuses not reasons and I hope to increase my comments on the actual blog by 50% in 2012.

The year 2011 has been exciting for genealogy! So many new record sets are now online and we have techo gadgets galore. Blogging continues to be something I have a love-hate relationship with. I do not consider myself a writer but I do love this world-wide communication method. Without Desperately Seeking Surnames, my cousin Betty in North Carolina would never have found me! Hi Betty!! :) Without Desperately Seeking Surnames I would not have all the great genealogy friends I have now, nor would I appreciate what bloggers have to provide to the world of genealogy.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

If anyone in the genealogy community, or any non-genea friend or follower on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter, had never heard of Rootstech...they have now!

Wow, the posts and tweets were blowing up the feeds these last 48 hours. One thing is for sure...WE LOVE BOOKS!! As genealogists we can't imagine a world without a heavy, thick, musty smelling book to guide us to our ancestors. We love turning the pages and anticipating what gem we are going to find on the next page.

I will be disappointed if there are no book vendors at Rootstech 2012. By the last day of the conference I will have talked myself into and out of buying another book on finding my German ancestors at least a dozen times. I will have called my husband and told him just how cool this book is over and over until he finally says "just buy the damn book!"

My disappointment will grow when I see there are no craft vendors in the exhibit hall. I love using scrapbook pages to tell my family stories and I enjoy seeing how other crafters tell their family stories through their chosen design medium. I gain new ideas from them and usually find some little trinket that I can't live without.

The absence of these vendors will be noticed and they will be missed. Will their absence ruin the entire conference experience? No. From last year's reviews this conference will be amazing with fantastic speakers and a great learning and networking environment. Will the absence of these vendors move me to cancel my plans to attend? Absolutely not.

The exhibit management for Rootstech made a decision to limit the exhibit hall vendors to "technology related products and services" and have chosen to "purposefully not accept applications from book publishers or arts and craft dealers". These statements are published here: Rootstech 2012 Exhibitor. While I find this decision to be a poor one, it is stated on the exhibitor application, the application that every potential exhibitor must complete.

Entering into a contract to exhibit at a trade show is like any other contract. You don't do the work until the contract is signed. Why did vendors proceed as if they had a contract, when in fact they didn't especially when there were very specific statements stating their particular type of product or service was not going to be accepted?

The word that has been tossed around these last 48 hours is "courted". Rootstech is said to have "courted" these very vendors that their exhibitor application says they are not going to accept. Who was doing the courting? Apparently somebody that was out of the loop on what management had planned for the exhibit hall. Was that all a misunderstanding? Did the vendors misinterpret the overtures from exhibit management?

Sadly all of this "hullabaloo" (love that word) leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many. The "shiny" Rootstech conference is a little duller these days. Rootstech has made a brief statement that they will "revisit" the issue...however that statement was a bit tardy in this day and age...especially for a technology conference.

As with any issue people are passionate about things are often said in the heat of the moment. I understand peoples desire to voice their opinion...that's why we blog right? It is disconcerting though when people feel they must attack people or beliefs. Let's stick to the issues.

I hope event management and the vendors in question are able to work something out. If not, those vendors need to jump into this spotlight quickly and make the most of it. People love to rally round the underdog. Have a "We've Been Banned From Rootstech" sale! Design "WE LOVE BOOKS" t-shirts we can all buy and wear to the conference. We can #occupyrootstech peacefully, yet still get our message across clearly.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

The next set of pages for the family history album are marriage pages. Our class instructions from Jessica Sprague were to create four pages. I wish I was lucky enough to have marriage photos for my grandparents and great grandparents but I"m not. I created a page for myself and my parents.

Be sure to check The Scrappy Genealogist for all the details of the Family History Scrapbook Sunday blogging prompts.

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